I'm regular customers of this gas station (201 La Cuesta Dr, Portola Valley, CA 94028) I brought cup noodles at 2:40 pm (12/14/2025)and I put hot water in it and I requested her for using microwave and she denied me , she said microwave is for workers who work here and I was there yesterday too I brought same cup noodles and I put in microwave. very rude and mean staff and 0 for customer service read more

where is shell corporate???? I have to honestly believe nobody from the company has a visited or checked up on this place. ever. we pulled up and the door was locked. it was Saturday at like noon btw - every gas station is open at that time. some crazy looking lady with a small frightened dog was cleaning her car right in front of the door and watched us try to open it several times before she spoke up that she was the worker. she finally opens the door and has to move a shelf around to keep her dog penned in behind the counter or it will escape. they've also converted the garage/mechanic spot into more of the store which was weird - no way it was safe for our kid to be back there with oil on the ground and repair stuff around. we finally wait to pay and she says the card reader is ready and assumed that's how I wanted to pay despite literally having cash in my hands in front of her. I hand her a $20 and she makes an annoyed sound, thinks for a second, then says the machine won't take it cause it's crumpled. what machine??? you're at a cash register! the bill was fine by the way, any ATM would have accepted it. she smiles smugly like she won something then drops her face when I take out another super crisp $20 and she's forced to make $2 in change - which seemed very difficult for her. after all that she ended up charging me card prices for gas when I paid cash. I said forget it and let them keep the dollar hecause dealing with her again wouldn't have been worth it. shell corporate really needs to check this place out because I guarantee it wouldn't pass a single measurement of their business checklist... read more

The location of this shell is awesome, right off 280 and Alpine. The traffic is usually sparse, which makes it a quick place to fill up. The downsides are definitely the prices and staff. None of the employees seem to actually want to be there and are generally weirdos. Common courtesy goes a long way, and this business is void of it, to say the least. read more

WTH. Crazy town. The woman that works here is WEIRD. I think she must watch too much 'Faux' news and maybe a little Alex Jones. Or maybe she has issues with men. Or maybe she's just plumb crazy. My 9 year old walked into the store before me to look at snacks as I got the pump going to gas up our car. When I walked to the door of the store, two men were walking out so I waited. As they exited and I tried to enter, a short lady with glasses and long curly gray hair stopped me by putting her body in the doorway and holding the door. She looked at me and said 'You can't come in right now, there is a child in here'. I stared at her for a few seconds trying to compute what the heck that meant. I looked for my little and started to push the door open and I see my 9 year old in the snack area (down a step and to the left of the main store) staring at her and then looking at me. THEN the weird lady said 'Is she yours?' WTH? I continued walking in and said 'YES she is mine, she's looking for snacks. Is there a problem?' My little and I looked at each other like she was cray-cray. We walked to the cooler area and whispered to each other- I asked what that was about and my little said nothing happened at all, she was just looking at snacks! Then it got even weirder. Two young men tried to come in but this same woman ran over to the door and blocked them from entering, shutting the door on their faces and yelling 'You can't come in right now! You have to wait!' She wouldn't even open the door to tell them that. I said 'Why are you doing this? What is wrong with you??' And she said 'Oh, I just thought you and your daughter might want some space'. Whaaaaaat? OMG Ok, this lady is full-on fruit loops. I said 'I didn't ask for any space, there is nothing wrong here, we are fine, now let these poor guys in- you're being totally ridiculous.' She let them in, and we were totally creeped out now. I told my little to just pick something so we could go. THEN we both notice at the same moment that this whole time, there was another female employee inches away from us, sitting with her back to us in an office chair! It's a weird set up in there, very crowded and this second woman and her office chair kind of blended In with the potato chip racks LOL. We noticed her at the same time and we both just popped our eyes wide open and looked at one another again, shaking our heads! The chair didn't move. We walked to the register and bought our snack from a THIRD employee, a young man who was friendly but couldn't figure out our change. Our total was $6.51 so I gave him a $10 and a penny. He did not know what to do with it. I almost said something because it was obvious he couldn't figure it out at first, but I didn't want the creepy lady standing with her back to him to get involved. She was literally standing to the side of him with her back to all of us, moving small items to be exactly 1/2 inch from each other, like OCD on steroids. Totally unnecessary and WEIRD, again. Was she trying to look busy? The kid handed me $4. I handed $1 back to him and said 'just switch that for .50, I don't want your drawer to be short, I've been there!' and he smiled and did it. Poor kid. He seemed super nervous. I guess if I worked in a Stephen King novel I would be nervous too. What the heck that woman's problem was, I do not know. The young men that walked out as I entered, as well as the two young men that tried to enter before she shut the door in their face certainly weren't scary or weird looking, they were just normal folks wearing their work clothes. The two guys she literally locked out for no reason were friendly and nice even after she acted that way. That employee is clearly disturbed! We go to the ranch right by this Shell station twice a week, but we will NEVER shop there for gas or snacks or anything ever again. Creepy weird people. I hope the lady sitting silently in the office chair with her back to us was actually alive. Maybe we should have checked on her. (Black humor, but Lordy if anything I've ever walked in on in my entire life seemed totally bizarre and out of a horror flick, this was it). read more

I come here for gas. I am on pump number 5. Insert my card and it clears me then when I wait for the pump to tell me to pick a type of gas it asks me if I want a receipt. No "select fuel type" or anything. I try twice. I go inside. The lady tells me that "nothing seems wrong" and I "did it right." Lady if I did it right would I be coming inside to hear you take forever with your coworker talking about what a beautiful day it is? My day is less beautiful when a bunch of strangers waste my freaking time. read more

Pros: It's a gas station. Cons: The LED sign is totally obnoxious. How did this ever get approved by the city? And why are they even advertising the *prices*? Their prices suck. They should be in fine print, not burnt into our retinas as we drive by. Bottom line: Most people only buy gas here when they have to in order to make their drive of shame home while leaving Portola Valley...note the 24 hour business. read more

Ladera Shell Portola Valley Shell - If Portola Valley becomes the site for first contact with aliens from distant galaxies, this sign will be the reason why. - Tires Near Me - Portola Valley, California

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Just bought a couple of diet cokes here. I didn't realize till after I left that they expired 5 months ago.

Excuse me for asking to buy lotto tickets. Condescending worker giving me attitude while she is working in a gas station. She coulda been a lot nicer about disclosing that lottos aren't sold in this "exclusive" area. read more

Apple Pay is disabled here even though the machine has the reader in it like all She'll stations. Super shady

On more than a few occasions, I've found myself on 280 getting low on fossil fuels for my car, and thank goodness for this kinda secret spot just off the highway west on Alpine Road. You pay Portola Valley prices (e.g. 10 cents more per gallon than a couple of miles away) but hey, what are you going to do when the gas light comes on? Good to know, right? read more

Pulled up at the Ladera Shell station tonight at 9:52pm, my gas light on. Door says they close at 10:00. Walk up to door, cash in hand. Door is locked. Cashier yells that they're closed. I ask what time they close and she says 10:00. I hold up my watch and show her it's definitely before 10:00. She tells me she closed early to do paperwork, and I'll need to use a credit card. I tell her I have cash. Here's the kicker: she points to another car at a different pump and says, "give them your cash and see if you can use their credit card." Are you kidding me??? I understand it's late and you want to go home but you can't turn a customer away during business hours. It's also the only gas station for miles. I wish I knew who the owner was so I could tell him his Saturday night employee sucks. read more

As usual, I will always give a gas station that does not have a gas pump auto-flow devices, 1 star! This is the 21st century, and no driver should need to suffer by holding a gas pump handle! The make matters worse, this Shell was charging $0.50 more per gallon than the station in San Jose that I gassed up at the week before!!! I paid $4.45/gallon for regular, $87.61 to gas up my Jeep, ouch! High Prices AND No Auto-Flow lever=1 Star read more

I have to agree with Ryan H. about the lady inside. Couldn't decide if she was stoned out of it on pills or just knew that it was the only station for miles around so why bother being nice to anyone? Prices weren't toooo bad, I've paid more for gas in 'remote' places but don't fill up here - and pay by card, we don't want to overwork the cashier.... read more

Dirtiest restroom I've ever come across. Felt I was in a third world country. Grimy floor, graffiti, overflowing trash can, flies... read more

Ladera Shell Portola Valley Shell - Tires Near Me - Portola Valley, California

Gas pumps do not work. No directions painted/signs so everyone is a tangled mess. Gas pumps extremely slow so this adds to the disaster. Just avoid at all costs. read more

Came home Sunday to find the car car lop-sided...and no, I was sober. A nail decided to lodge itself in my new tire.....and leak very slowly. AAA helped put the spare on (I do know how to do these things in theory, but AAA comes oh so fast). Fortunately, all I needed was a plug in the tire, but since it was a Sunday there weren't any convenient options to remedy the tire. The closest place was the PV Shell. The kind mechanic who saved the tire was so nice, efficient, and had a huge smile on his face. I had no appointment and he had about 4-5 cars to work on, yet he took care of me right away (while I went to the grocery store). When I returned not only had he completed the job, but he even screwed the spare back in, which was not his job, but very appreciated. All for only $25, a whole lot less than a new tire. If you're ever in a jam along 280 in the PEN, the Shell on Alpine will take great care of you (except on Sundays). read more

filled up gas around 9:50, pump would not print receipt. Lady at Food Mart was in process of shutting down, disappeared into back when I approached window. I waited for a while for her to reappear, explained I needed a receipt. She said she could not give me one. Just repeated "closed, closed." No help on how I might get a receipt, without which I probably can't get work reimbursement. Also, highest gas price I've seen anywhere in area, go anwhere else if possible if you're not in a pinch as I was. read more

It's a gas station. Pros: Just off of Hwy 280 on Alpine Road, which is way more convenient driving into Stanford territory. Clean station. Cons: Limited convenience store selection and a minimum purchase amount to be able to use your credit card for snacks. Considering the cost of gas, this should be waived with a fuel purchase. read more

08/06/17 11:10 am and I'm standing outside locked out. Cashier is on her phone in the bathroom. Walked out and entered through back door. Door still locked. On her phone. 11:15 am. Still locked. 11:20 am. You guessed it. People keep walking away. Left. I've met the owners. We've talked. Nice people. You need to reconsider her employment. read more

while Denny...the owner...is a super nice guy, charging mega great googa mooga prices ($45 for a simple oil change) is not cool at all. I'll buy a lotto ticket but no go on servicing...=) read more

Not sure about Scott M.'s experience, but I've had a lot of success working with the mechanic here (Denny) for the past few years. I've done standard oil changes, tire rotations, tire replacement, timing belt replacement, and suspension work....and in all cases, he's either matched or exceeded competitor quotes. And if something doesn't need fixing, he's always been very upfront with me about it (instead of artificially inflating the price). Overall, I'm very satisfied with the level of work here, and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a good, honest mechanic. read more

Don't ever go here if you want an honest mechanic!! This guy is the biggest rip off I've ever been to. He charged me $225. when all he had to do is replace a relay switch, he charged me $95. just to diagnose the problem and none of it went towards fixing the problem (poof $95. gone) If you need a smog check and your check engine lite is on it won't smog he knew that (I didn't) but ran the test anyway and charged me $41.75 and said sorry it didn't pass. I asked what it would take to fix it and he said it will cost $95. to diagnosis it. I left and will NEVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN!! read more

I had a very good experience when i walked into the shell gas station. the lady at the register was very friendly . My tire had popped and stopped at the gas station and there was no mechanic and she helped me change my tire. I personaly had great experience. I always stop once in a while and im always greeted and thanked for my purchases. read more